Press release

USA qualifies for semifinals after five-set-win over Spain

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6, 2011 – The United States qualified to the semifinals of FIVB Men's Junior World Championship in Rio de Janeiro as the American team collected its second straight win in Pool E of the second round on Saturday. The Norceca champions edged Spain 3-2 (25-21, 20-25, 26-24, 28-30, 15-11) reaching five points in the group´s standings.,

The American win also qualified Russia, which has six points. The two teams clash on Sunday at 4:00 p.m to determine first and second places in the pool, while the meeting between Spain (1) and Iran (0), at 10:00 a.m., will rank teams in third and fourth positions.

The American assumed the control of the first set since its beginning as the team went to the first technical timeout with an 8-5 lead following a spike of middle blocker Eric Mochalski. Led by setter Micah Christenson, the USA did not allow Spain to get closer in the scoreboard and, after having a 17-12 lead, finished the first set 25-21 with Mochalski's attack.

Spain showed a better performance in the start of the second frame as the match got even until the 9th point, when a block of Raul Munoz and a spike of Villena put the Europeans three points ahead. With Ruiz and Bugallo efficient in spiking, the European improved their lead to 20-15. The American reacted and reduced the difference 22-20, but could not avoid the Spanish win, sealed by a wrong spike of American Dylan Davis: 25-20.

The beginning of third set was marked by several mistakes of both sides and the Spanish took advantage of one of them to score 5-2. With Villena spiking the net, American reduced it 8-7, but quickly Spain recovered the safe 17-12 advantage with Munoz spiking. With four points in a row, the USA got closer 17-16 before tying it 18-18. With Maurice Torres in the line, the Americans scored two straight points to win it in tight 26-24.

The reversal in the end of the set excited the American, which achieved an early 5-1 lead in the fourth frame. Spain did not give up and, led by a tireless Francisco Ruiz, reversed it 11-10. After some turnarounds and a thrilling end, the Europeans won 30-28 with a foot-fault of American Torres.

Following a wrong serve of Bugallo, American changed sides in the fifth set in front 8-6. Showing high efficiency in spiking, the USA remained ahead until the end of the match and won it 15-11 after a powerful spike of captain Taylor Crabb.